Travel, outdoors, adventure, hiking, family, Sydney, lifestyle,
7 reasons to book an inside cabin on your next cruise
Booking an inside cabin on a cruise ship usually comes with an over-jolly disclaimer. Like, ‘We’re only there to sleep because there’s so much to do on board!’ Because if you were more cashed up, so the expectation goes, then you’d choose a fancy balcony suite. Right? I’ve stayed in both and can say that cabins boasting invigorating salty air are not all they’re cracked up to be. Give me an inside cabin any day.
Cruise ship trivia leaves Aussies scratching their heads
I’ve long dreamed of winning big on a TV quiz show. I want fame, fortune and to show off my general knowledge to a huge audience. But if all that’s on offer is a “Dinghy on a Stringy” at cruise ship trivia, then, oh, I am so there.
A theatre full of fellow passengers on the Carnival Splendor, all waiting for the morning’s daily trivia to kick off, proves I’m not the only one. Trivia is a near-certainty on programs across cruise ships of all sizes. It’s one of the most popular activities, too,...
Eight ways to become a cruise trivia champ
Here’s how to win trivia on board a cruise ship. Get the most answers right. Simple.
When that is not always within reach, there are ways to make victory more likely (anything for a bit of branded merchandise, right?). Win or lose, this is how to make trivia a winner regardless of your final score.
I took the same Carnival Splendor cruise twice in 3 weeks
I went on the same cruise twice, just three weeks apart. Same cruise line, same proposed itinerary, exact same ship.
Grandparents on both sides of the family had been desperate for a multi-generational catch-up after two years of lockdowns, so they both – separately – booked a family-friendly cruise in the same school holiday window. Except for my partner and our three kids, the 3007 other passengers on Carnival Splendor to New Caledonia were (probably) different. “Probably” because, accordin...
The moment I knew: ‘He raced over to help some hapless hikers. Their tent was up in minutes’
The night I met my husband I came home disappointed. Seated on the edge of the bed, I removed my earrings, puzzled. I had been so sure I would meet someone that night; there was a buzz in my body, a little hum of excitement. Tonight is special, it whispered.
Travel boycotts aren’t the answer. Here’s why.
You might not realize it, but choosing travel destinations can be a political act. Writer Tara Wells explores why the action of travel boycotts may not bring the change we intend.
Town and Country: Sydney's Great West Walk
Sydney’s 60 km Great West Walk traverses a landscape of woodlands, river systems and parklands whist also offering an insight into some Australia’s oldest architecture.
Ripping Yarns: Great stories and great views on Sydney’s new Bondi to Manly Walk.
A walk can be more than an accumulation of footsteps, more than stringing two locations together by foot. One of the best ways to get to this deeper experience is through story. That was my goal in writing The Bondi to Manly Walk Guidebook. Keeping the comfort of how to get from A to B but with more. I set out to weave together the many layers of a green city into one common thread and by doing so, transform a (very pretty) walk into a memorable experience.
Australia holidays: Sydney's new walking track from Bondi to Manly
Make sure you pack your togs for this epic Sydney walk, writes Tara Wells.
Walking the new 80km Bondi to Manly track from one iconic beach to another is a revelation. Passing through the city centre and over the harbour bridge, the walk wends in and out of Sydney Harbour National Park. It takes in every available green space and waterfront, yet still delights in traversing urban areas usually reserved for resident multi-millionaires, avoiding main roads wherever it can.
Hiking the Harbour City
Here, there’s no hint of the city’s petrol-hazed traffic crawl, no cacophony of mega-mall food courts. It’s Sydney, but not as you know it. This is the Bondi to Manly Walk, a new 80km track gripping the city’s coastline like its coffee-fueled life depends on it.
Hiking in Haleakala NP, Hawaii
The lunar landscapes, lush jungles and varied ecosystems of Hawaii’s Haleakala National Park offer out-of-this-world hiking.